Adhesion of human primary skin fibroblasts and ECV304 endothelial cells to immobilized matrix proteins, β1 or αv integrin antibodies stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This tyrosine phosphorylation is transiently induced, reaching maximal levels 30 min after adhesion, and it occurs in the absence of receptor ligands. Similar results were observed with EGF receptor‐transfected NIH‐3T3 cells. Use of a kinase‐negative EGF receptor mutant demonstrates that the integrin‐stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation is due to activation of the receptor's intrinsic kinase activity. Integrin‐mediated EGF receptor activation leads to Erk‐1/MAP kinase induction, as shown by treatment with the specific inhibitor tyrphostin AG1478 and by expression of a dominant‐negative EGF receptor mutant. EGF receptor and Erk‐1/MAP kinase activation by integrins does not lead per se to cell proliferation, but is important for entry into S phase in response to EGF or serum. EGF receptor activation is also required for extracellular matrix‐mediated cell survival. Adhesion‐dependent MAP kinase activation and survival are regulated through EGF receptor activation in cells expressing this molecule above a threshold level (5×103 receptors per cell). These results demonstrate that integrin‐dependent EGF receptor activation is a novel signaling mechanism involved in cell survival and proliferation in response to extracellular matrix.

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion cooperates with growth factor receptors in the control of cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell migration. One mechanism to explain these synergistic effects is the ability of integrins to induce phosphorylation of growth factor receptors, for instance the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Here we define some aspects of the molecular mechanisms regulating integrin-dependent EGF receptor phosphorylation. We show that in the early phases of cell adhesion integrins associate with EGF receptors on the cell membrane in a macromolecular complex including the adaptor protein p130Cas and the c-Src kinase, the latter being required for adhesion-dependent assembly of the macromolecular complex. We also show that the integrin cytoplasmic tail, c-Src kinase, and the p130Cas adaptor protein are required for phosphorylation of EGF receptor in response to integrin-mediated adhesion. We show that integrins induce phosphorylation of EGF receptor on tyrosine residues 845, 1068, 1086, and 1173, but not on residue 1148, a major site of phosphorylation in response to EGF. In addition we find that integrin-mediated adhesion increases the amount of EGF receptor expressed on the cell surface. Therefore these data indicate that integrin-mediated adhesion induces assembly of a macromolecular complex containing c-Src and p130Cas and leads to phosphorylation of specific EGF receptor tyrosine residues.

Integrin signalling co-ordinates with signalling originating from growth factor receptors in the co-operative control of cell proliferation, survival and migration. Increasing evidence suggests that integrins form physical complexes at the cell membrane with growth factor receptors, giving rise to signalling platforms at the adhesive sites. It is probable that at these sites integrins regulate adhesion and at the same time physically constrain and direct the response to soluble growth factors towards proliferation or survival stimuli. These co-operative effects might depend on integrin ability to activate growth factor receptors. In the present paper, we summarize our recent study showing that integrin-dependent adhesion triggers ligand-independent EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) activation to transduce downstream signalling. In addition, we also show that integrin-induced signalling pathways are necessary for EGF-dependent transcriptional response, demonstrating the requirement of the co-operation between cell–matrix adhesion and EGFR to achieve full biological responses.

DS (Down's syndrome) is the most common human aneuploidy associated with mental retardation and early neurodegeneration. Mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders including DS, but the cause of mitochondrial damage remains elusive. In the present study, we identified new molecular events involved in mitochondrial dysfunction which could play a role in DS pathogenesis. We analysed mitochondrial respiratory chain function in DS-HSFs (Down's syndrome human foetal skin fibroblasts; human foetal skin fibroblasts with chromosome 21 trisomy) and found a selective deficit in the catalytic efficiency of mitochondrial complex I. The complex I deficit was associated with a decrease in cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the 18 kDa subunit of the complex, due to a decrease in PKA (protein kinase A) activity related to reduced basal levels of cAMP. Consistently, exposure of DS-HSFs to db-cAMP (dibutyryl-cAMP), a membrane-permeable cAMP analogue, stimulated PKA activity and consequently rescued the deficit of both the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation and the catalytic activity of complex I; conversely H89, a specific PKA inhibitor, suppressed these cAMP-dependent activations. Furthermore, in the present paper we report a 3-fold increase in cellular levels of ROS (reactive oxygen species), in particular superoxide anion, mainly produced by DS-HSF mitochondria. ROS accumulation was prevented by db-cAMP-dependent activation of complex I, suggesting its involvement in ROS production. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that the drastic decrease in basal cAMP levels observed in DS-HSFs participates in the complex I deficit and overproduction of ROS by DS-HSF mitochondria.

Steroid hormones bind to their receptors and trans-activate target genes. Rapid non-genomic action of steroid hormones has been proposed in addition to the one at the genomic level. Estrogen has been described to activate c-Src kinase and this activation has been shown to be responsible for estrogen-dependent mitogenicity. A major substrate of c-Src kinase activity is the cytoskeletal protein p130Cas, originally identified in v-Src-transformed cells. We show that in the human breast carcinoma T47D cells, upon estrogen treatment, p130Cas rapidly and transiently associates with the estrogen receptor α in a multi-molecular complex containing the c-Src kinase and the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase. Association of p130Cas with the estrogen receptor α occurs within 3 minutes of estrogen treatment and is dependent on c-Src kinase activation. Transient overexpression of p130Cas in T47D cells increases estrogen-dependent Src kinase and Erk1/2 MAPKs activities and accelerates their kinetics of stimulation. A similar effect was detected on estrogen-dependent cyclin D1 expression, suggesting a role for p130Cas in regulating estrogen-dependent cell cycle progression. Double-stranded small RNA interference (siRNA) by silencing endogenous p130Cas protein, was sufficient to inhibit estrogen-dependent Erk1/2 MAPKs activity and cyclin D1 induction, demonstrating the requirement of p130Cas in such events. Therefore, our data show that the adaptor protein p130Cas associates with the estrogen receptor transducing complex, regulating estrogen-dependent activation of c-Src kinase and downstream signaling pathways.

The impact of estrogens on the cardiovascular system and their ability to regulate platelet function are matters of controversy. The recent finding that estrogen receptors are expressed in human platelets renders these cells an excellent model for studying the nongenomic effects of these hormones. In this work, we investigated 17β-estradiol–dependent signaling in platelets from adult healthy men. 17β-estradiol caused the rapid phosphorylation of the tyrosine kinases Src and Pyk2 and the formation of a signaling complex, which included Src, Pyk2, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Both these events were dependent on estrogen receptor β engagement. We found that estrogen receptor β was membrane-associated in platelets. On treatment with 17β-estradiol, Src and Pyk2 activation occurred in the membrane fraction but not in the cytosol. In contrast, no significant activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase was detected in estrogen-treated platelets. 17β-estradiol did not induce any platelet response directly, but it strongly potentiated the activation of integrin αIIbβ3 and the platelet aggregation induced by subthreshold concentrations of thrombin. These effects were dependent on estrogen receptor β recruitment and were associated with a strong synergistic effect with thrombin on Src activation. Taken together, these results indicate that 17β-estradiol can modulate platelet function by exercising a proaggregating role.